International Journal of Avian & Wildlife Biology Editorial Open Access Reminder about tigers: current status and conservation Abstract Volume 3 Issue 2 - 2018 The tiger (Panthera tigris) is one of the largest cat species. Tigers are carnivorous primal predators, needing large habitats that support their food requirements. At Anna Marija Knoka,1 Ewa Sawosz,2 André present, there are only approximately 3,890 tigers in the wild, while most tigers (about Chwalibog2,3 10,000) are in captivity in zoos, circuses or privately owned. The tiger is a highly 1Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University of endangered species, and it is crucial to find new ways to protect and conserve this Latvia, Latvia amazing animal. In the note, we have outlined the current status of the population, 2Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Warsaw threats and conservation efforts to preserve the species, to inspire the scientific University of Life Sciences, Poland community and stakeholders to protect tigers from total extinction. 3Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Keywords: Tiger, panthera tigris, habitat, conservation, threats, poaching, Copenhagen, Denmark endangered species Correspondence: André Chwalibog, University of Copenhagen, Groennegaardsvej 3, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark, Tel +4540 9635 73, Email [email protected] Received: March 08, 2018 | Published: March 12, 2018 Introduction Philippines in the South, populating most of Asia and the Indian subcontinent. However, unfortunately, their distribution range has It is important to understand that tigers play a vital role in the been reduced dramatically in just one century.5 The current situation is ecosystem, as they are a predator at the top of the food chain: the that the tiger distribution only includes India, Southeast Asia, Western apex predator. Their scarcity can lead to overpopulation of some China and some Russian regions.6 The Bengal tiger inhabits parts of types of animals, for example ungulates, and unbalanced growth of India, but it is possible to find some small populations in Bangladesh, flora. For centuries, the tigers have been hunted both as a sport and Nepal and Bhutan. The Siberian tiger was mainly found in Manchuria for their coats, without thinking about the future of these animals. The by the Amur River. The Amur tiger’s habitat is now restricted to the population of tigers drastically decreased to only about 3,890 tigers Sikhote-Alin region in the Primorsk and Khabarovsk provinces of 1 in the wild, hence it is now on the edge of total extinction. In recent the Russian Far East, small pockets in the border areas of China and years, there has been a desperate surge for new ways to restore tiger possibly in North Korea. The South China tiger is native to Southern populations before these beautiful animals cease to exist. There used China, but it is extinct in the wild and now survives only in captivity, to be eleven subspecies of tigers, but due to habitat loss and poaching, for example zoos. The Indochinese tiger is distributed in Southeast there are now only six tiger subspecies. The Trinil and Japanese tigers China, but it has also been spotted in Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, 2 became extinct in prehistoric times. In the mid-20th century, the Bali, Cambodia, Laos and Southwest China. The Malayan tiger lives only Caspian and Javan tiger subspecies went extinct. The six remaining in the Malay Peninsula. The Sumatran tiger is found in the Indonesian subspecies are the Bengal (Panthera tigris), Indochinese (Panthera island of Sumatra.7 According to a survey from 2010, performed in tigris corbetti) also called Corbett’s tiger, Malayan (Panthera tigris Bangladesh, Russia, Bhutan, India and Nepal, there were 3,200 tigers jacksoni), Siberian (Panthera tigris altaica) known as Amur tiger, in the wild. A more recent survey carried out in 2016 suggested a South China (Panthera tigris amoyensis) known as Amoy or Xiamen slightly higher number of 3,890 tigers, but this higher estimate is 1,3 tiger and Sumatran (Panthera tigris sumatrae) tigers. All living tigers likely caused by improved survey techniques and is not likely to have similar orange-reddish fur (except the white Bengali tiger) with indicate an increasing population.1 Among wild tigers, the Bengal dark stripes, but their sizes and coat patterns differ. The aim of this tiger has the largest population, estimated at around 2,500. There are note is to raise awareness about the diminishing tiger population and about 500 Malayan tigers and 400–600 Sumatran tigers. There are to inspire the scientific community to actively protect tigers from total fewer than 300 Indochinese tigers, and there are about 300 Siberian extinction. tigers, while the South China tiger has not been seen in the wild for approximately 20 years.7,8 Current status Besides wild tigers, there are approximately 10,000 animals living Tigers can readily adapt to different habitats, for example taigas, 9 4,5 in captivity globally. The majority of captive tigers is located in the savannas, grasslands, tropical forests and evergreen forests. Tigers USA (about 5,000) with almost 95% privately owned. This huge were historically distributed from the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea number of captive tigers in the USA and in other countries is due to to Siberia in the North and Indonesia, and even in Borneo and the Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Int J Avian & Wildlife Biol. 2018;3(2):91–92. 91 © 2018 Konstat-Korzenny et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially. Copyright: Reminder about tigers: current status and conservation ©2018 Knoka et al. 92 people purchasing cute small cubs, which when grown up are often Together with the global wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, sold back to breeding farms without any breeding control, hence WWF has tried to create strategies to stop wildlife criminal networks, causing inbreeding and health problems.1 One of the greatest threats help governments to shut down black markets and change consumer to the tigers is the spread of farmland and habitat loss. The loss of behaviour.13 habitat is due to the growth of the human population destroying the ecosystem. The tigers’ primary food is ungulate animals. However, if the habitats of hoofed animals disappear, then the numbers of these animals, thus the number of tigers will diminish as a result.3 At present, tigers have lost almost 93% of their original habitat, and for example, if deforestation continues at a rate of 47km2 per year, the number of wild animals that tigers prey upon will be significantly reduced, causing a lack of food and consequently reducing the tiger population.1,11 Another problem with increasing farmland in areas where tigers dwell is that tigers, which are mainly hungry or sick, occasionally attack domestic livestock. This results in farmers killing the predator of their livestock.7 In some places, there have been cases of attacks on humans, and this makes the prejudice towards these cats even worst.1 Conclusion In this note, we have briefly outlined the present situation of tigers Another major threat to tigers in the wild is poaching. The most to inspire the scientific community and stakeholders to protect tigers valuable part of the tiger is its coat, but many parts of the body are from total extinction. Tigers need large hunting areas and they can also considered as useful products in traditional Asian medicine.10 The adapt to diverse habitats, but they are endangered. Their number is poaching affects not only the dead animal but sometimes offspring that critically small because they are hunted for fur, medical applications, still need maternal care. Killed mothers leave their cubs vulnerable to and because of human–animal conflicts. The governmental policies predators and without food. In India alone, about 50% of tigers’ deaths and international conservation strategies are still not sufficient. in protected areas are due to poaching. There are indications that However, the most important thing is not to lose the hope that in the poaching has declined, but that it is still common in the Eastern world. future these magnificent beings will regain their numbers. Of course, It remains a problem that requires an intense and organized effort, but extinct subspecies cannot return, but we must try to save what is still unfortunately, resources are limited.1 The tiger population is reducing left. rapidly, but hunting continues. In Asia, it has been one of the most extravagant sports, and people are willing to pay enormous amounts Acknowledgements of money to kill a tiger. Because tigers are hard to find and the hunting is illegal, the hunt is often more exciting for the customers.6 None. Conservation Conflict of interest With tiger populations in decline, they are disappearing, are on The authors declare no conflict of interest. the verge of extinction and must thus be protected. The necessity of protecting this species becomes more urgent as threats to tigers are References 12 not decreasing. the increasing concern about wild tiger survival 1. Tigers. USA: World Wildlife Fund; 2017. has prompted several governments in Asia to undertake preliminary measures to try to increase the tiger population and to protect/ 2. Panthera tigris acutidens. USA: Uchytel, Roman; 2012. develop their habitats. In general, tiger hunting is prohibited, but 3. Panthera tigris. USA: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; illegal hunting and poaching still exist.10 The trade of tiger products 2017. is also a huge problem in spite of governmental policies. Even though 4. Tigers Habitat & Distribution. USA: SeaWorld Parks & there is an increasing policy to educate people to avoid human–tiger Entertainment; 2017. conflicts, the capabilities of governments to implement effective educational systems are still very limited.